Kayakers had adventurous spirits

Rescue boats involved in the search and recovery of two kayakers in Lake Michigan off Cave Point County Park on April 28. Both kayakers later died.(Photo: Tina M. Gohr/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)Buy Photo

SEVASTOPOL- Obituaries for two men who died after their kayaks capsized Friday in Lake Michigan at Cave Point County Park describe their love of adventure and family.

The Door County Sheriff's Department identified the two kayakers Monday as Mathew Alan Tauferner, 29, of Sturgeon Bay and Dylan Tyler Dohr, 21, of Clintonville. Dohr, a U.S. Marine, was home on leave when the incident occurred. Previously, Tauferner was a resident of Tigerton.

At 11:30 a.m. Friday, a call came in for two kayakers in distress about 100 yards from shore. The kayaks the men were in capsized; the water temperature was 43 degrees.

Tauferner's obituary describes him as "a boy everyone could love and who loved everyone."

“His adventurous spirit found its home in the outdoors, where he plotted his hunt, hung his bow, welcomed the challenge and cherished his moments,” the obituary says.

According to Dohr’s obituary, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps after graduating from Clintonville High School in 2013. His deployment included Okinawa, Japan.

“He was an adventurer and was always down to do whatever someone suggested … A true daredevil at that. No jump was too much for him, he never turned down a good dare. He loved spending time with family and friends,” his obituary states.

A celebration of life for Tauferner is scheduled for Wednesday at The River House, W16787 County M, in Tigerton. Visitation is from 4-6 p.m. with a prayer service to follow. Funeral services for Dohr are scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday at St. Rose Catholic Church, 27 Seventh St., in Clintonville. Visitation begins at 9 a.m.

Water safety

People should evaluate weather conditions and their own skill level before going out on to the water, said Mike Neal, Department of Natural Resources marine warden.

During the summer, the DNR is pulling people from the water about “every other day,” Neal said.

“It’s mostly people who are going out beyond their skill level or skill set,” he said. Most of the time people are not wearing a flotation device.

According Neal, state and federal laws require there be life jackets available, but people are not required to wear them.

“A boat is anything that floats on water that can transport people and property from one point to another,” he said.

Before going out, let people know where you are going, when you will be back, have something that can be used to signal for help, and check weather conditions, he said.

“Of course we tell people to plan for the environment. Dress in layers. Of course, life jackets are the biggest thing,” he said.

According to a DNR 2016 Wisconsin boating annual report, there were 108 boating-related accidents investigated in 2016. Of those, 21 were fatalities.

The report goes on to state that 81 percent of those fatalities were drownings, and 76 percent of those people were not wearing flotation devices.

People should also be aware of the water temperature.

“Probably the biggest issue on Friday would have been the cold. It would have taken literally a matter of minutes (before) your body starts shutting down,” he said.

If you fall into the water the first thing is to remain clam, Neal said.

“It sounds easy to say it, but try to remain calm. The panic, that one is really hard on people,” he said.

Try to stay with the boat and keep your head above water.

“If people are on shore and they see it happen, call 911. Get help coming. If you’re on shore that’s literally the last ditch effort to enter the water yourself,” he said.

Neal tells people that if they can reach a person in the water, pull them out, otherwise throw them something to grab on to.

There are several things people should know about kayaking before going out on to the water including what type of kayak is best for different bodies of water, clothing and proper risk assessment, said Ken Braband, a state education director for the American Canoe Association. Braband also teaches during the Door County Sea Kayak Symposium.

“You have to get to a certain knowledge level before going out on the Great Lakes,” he said.

There are two main types of kayaks a recreational kayak and a touring or sea kayak, Braband said.

Touring kayaks have air-tight compartments in the front and back of the vessel, he said. If the kayak capsizes, it will not fill with water the same way a recreational kayak does.

He recommends people learn the different types of exits from a kayak in the event it capsizes.

“It’s a lot of different techniques that anyone who kayaks on the Great Lakes” should learn, he said.

He also recommends people look into wet and dry suits depending on water temperatures. A dry suit will offer more protection this time of year.